Tag Archives: truth

A long while back…or at least it seems like a long while back, it really wasn’t, I decided that in 2017 I was going to catch up. ’16 had damn near killed me, and my drive…I wanted a do-over.

The goal: Fulfill the docket from 16, and add 17 to the mix…meaning, EIGHT releases…EIGHT releases of MY OWN. Not counting an edit for someone else, or a publishing job for the house, that would all be extra…eight Savie V. releases.

Folks said I was crazy. Heck, I said I was crazy…I was right. I was, still am.

BUT…I did it. Gravedigger releases this coming Saturday. I confirmed it with the final upload around 12:30 this morning. I’ve been sussing over it for weeks now, not happy with little pieces here or there. I was seriously debating killing my ability to do a preorder for the next year…and push it back or cancel the preorder all together. I was that irritated with pieces. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it though.

I’m glad I didn’t. Gravedigger has shown me something that I needed to see, and while it was enlightening…it has also left me actively baffled about where I’m going next.

I’ve called myself a Contemporary Vagabond for a long while now, and I think that will hold true…but, I’m seeing a few things shift as I’ve been writing this year; my tendencies narrowing, my tastes…refining perhaps, and my choices…they don’t surprise me as much as they used to. I am enjoying writing certain genres and twists more than others, and I’m harder-pressed to turn down some things than others.

The biggest shock is that a piece I wrote to stand alone…I believe is going to launch a series. I fell in love with a character who, even though the story is done and in print, won’t stop talking to me. I’ll tell you more about them soon. right now…I’m here to tell you that release #7 of the year, Gravedigger comes out this Saturday. The preorder is live for $0.99 but that price will not last. The change date is on my calendar already….don’t wait.

Release #8 of mine for the year is Veil Break. It comes out in the Haunting Savannah set on October 10th. I am thrilled to share that story in a set with other awesome writers…great all 8 stories at once…just in time for Halloween!

‘Til next time…I’m taking a day to maybe sleep normal, then packing for Penned Con in St. Louis. The writing parts may be done, but the adventure always beckons.

It’s go time. I’ve been working for this kick off point for half of the year between other things, and honestly…I’m ready to wrap. How abysmal is that? I’m at the beginning of my victory lap and I’m too pooped to run it. lol

I will. No worries…I always rally. Right now, I’m just zoinked from the hard run marathon to reach this point.

What am I talking about?? FIVE RELEASES IN SIX WEEKS.
Yupp, you read that right. Even though one has moved dates, the lead up didn’t change…so in my mind it still counts.

I have OCD. EXTREME OCD as a matter of fact. Ask anyone who knows me a bit. I have the horrible habit of remembering most things in detail as well…which honestly hurts my head at times. I can, in many cases, remember a conversation verbatim, where others simply don’t recall it at all. It’s a burden I’d like to unload.

Add to this that I’m a bit of a workaholic. I run until I drop, I’ll write until I can’t see the screen or page, and I pack more into my schedule than I probably should, if I want people to believe I actually value my sanity. I’d like to find a way to ease off this too…but I know it won’t happen.

So, I’m trying to employ some breathing and meditation again. The problem is not that I can’t manage the burden I have, but that I look for when others pick up to the level of my crazy and get frustrated when they won’t, don’t, or can’t. Mostly, I’m pretty good at that and keep moving. Lately, with respect to the day job, I’m homicidal often and leaving it at the office is more difficult by the day.

I’m finding that I’ve lapped myself on the hamster wheel lately. It’s a good thing, even as I fight not to give in and let myself ride the next turn and slow down. If it wouldn’t put me severely behind, I would in an instant. But alas, it will only make the next lap harder and I find that catching up is simply not in my ability if I get too far behind.

Instead, I’ve taken to doing some long hand writing. It’s got a certain meditative quality to it that typing can never encompass. As such, I’ve also taken turns writing with the myriad pens I’ve collected over the years, or through other authors at signings…because I’m a pen whore. There, I said it. No, I don’t want a 12-step program. I happen to love my obsession. There is something about finding one that just glides for you that makes the words all the more magical.

Do you have a favorite? A favorite single you’ve never been able to replace, or is it a certain brand that works for you every time? What about the feel? I have recently discovered one that I like a lot…and then found that it came in different barrel styles. They are NOT the same, even though the ink and roller are…the feel is completely foreign and I cannot make myself pick the one up…which really bites because I bought a whole package of them.

So…what’s a girl to do?

Part of me thinks that authors, like the president, should write one word or letter and then give them away like prizes. Could that become a thing? ‘Here, I wrote with this…treasure it forever.’ Somehow, unless you’re a big shot, and it has your name on it, and maybe the title of the work it was used for, and maybe some writer’s tears on it, I don’t think so. Guess I’ll go back to the old stand-by solution…donating them to the classrooms at the local school. Somebody is always needing one, right? That’s what I’m telling myself.

Meanwhile, the tried and true I’ve fallen completely in love with ones will make it into one of the multiple holders around my office and wait for rediscovery. I mean, fair is fair…gotta try them all. Don’t I?

A former assistant of mine was fond of commenting how the body began its crumble at 40. I laughed at her for years…
Having managed to eeek out another decade before mine started giving in, I guess I should be grateful, but MANNNNN, there are days when I’m thinking the years since 40 conspired and jumped to catch up all at once! My bones hurt, and my muscles argue for days after I do any project that is remotely physical.

My mad scramble lately has been wrapping a couple of writing projects for deadlines so I could get my office moved out of the lower level where just about every recent storm has decided to come in. Saturday night at 10:52 CST, the last of the words were sent off and it was time. The next line of storms are already tracking this way. I had to move quickly.

Over the next 24 hours, THIS…

…became this.

It sure feels empty now.
I’ll be spending the next week or so getting everything re-homed in the new space. Paint and recently shampooed carpets weren’t quite dry…so I’m giving it time. (or, maybe it’s just me needing a break.)

Either way, I’ve earned a respite…a day or two anyway. Stories #5 & #6 of 8 for 2017 have whisked away to where they need to be and it will be time to take #7 & #8 off the shelf to rework, clean, & polish once the office is back up. I can ill-afford the day…but at the same time, there isn’t another one coming soon, or in sight. I set a heavy load & aggressive pace for this year. I’m determined to complete (and survive) it. Come November…Scotch for everyone. I’m pouring if I can move. 🙂

Til next time…all the usuals; read something good, take care of you, and keep checking my facebook page and author website, I’m still in the midst of cover reveals, preorders going live, and author features for my co-conspirators in Cimmerian Shade. Don’t miss out!!

First thing, I want to congratulate the coordinators and everyone who had anything to do with Writers on the River this past weekend. KUDOS on a job well done.

Second, If you aren’t following along on my fan page, website, newsletter, or something…you might want to get there. news is happening fast these next weeks with multiple cover reveals, pre-0rder links going live, and a crazy lot of stuff all coming in a short window! Doooo Iiiiiit.

Third, I am the Amazon Prime Day master. I bought absolutely nothing and I want you to be proud of me…because it means more resources to put into the work. I COULD have bought new furniture for my office space…drapes, desk, chair, file cabinets…the works, but I held firm and will be investing in swag. Yay me…Yay you.

Fourth, and finally…I have lost an entire manuscript from the computer. I don’t know how… I have a partial back up on drive, but the complete is renegade. With that…I’m running amuck trying to recreate and re-polish before the deadline which is coming fast. So, I gotta blaze.

Posting on Mondays is odd sometimes…especially when covers are revealed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. This past week, my PA started a promo/review tour for me that includes the cover reveal for Book III in The Custos Series – Book of Mysteries. Soon, I’ll be able to share the story – but for now…here’s the blurb & the cover, graced by a good friend of mine, Eric Jacob.

Book of Mysteries The Custos Book III

Release Date – September 2017 Pre-Order coming soon

Twins Poppy and Bergie share everything, including an ability to read the mysterious book that Bergie gets Mardi Gras Day when the Muddy Graws debut in the big parade. Not to be left behind, Poppy inserts herself into the twisting turn of events when she takes the book from its hiding place and changes everything, shifting the balance between light and dark.

Sebastian Winder has his hands full. The new Keeper has a twin who knows more than she should and is being actively recruited by White Diamond. Fearing the worst, the Custos guardian asks for an assistant. Who he gets is as green a Custos as there ever was, fresh from the Farther Fields, Ramsby Roth.

In this third installment of The Custos series, it might take every one available to keep the book from the wrong hands as the odds are stacking against them. Just when they think the end is in sight, World War I erupts, Bergie is sent to serve, and Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans are cancelled.

How can they keep the book safe now?

Only the book knows.

NEXT WEEK – I have ANOTHER cover reveal for Imposs-i-Bella. Sadly, unless you’ll be joining me at Writers on the River in Peoria this Saturday, you’ll have to wait 2 weeks to see it here since it comes out on Wednesday…

For YEARS I have used a dayrunner pro business system binder. YEARS. Today, I loaded up the refill for next year (since I used something different for this year) not realizing that I had purchased the 2 page per day version instead of the 1 page per day version. WOAH…what a difference…I can no longer stuff 2+ years worth of planning pages into the trusty binder…heck, I can barely get one in. I need to either go back to the one a day, or find a bigger binder. FRACK!

I was so excited to be more organized and ready for 2018…Being that I took it out of the wrapper, I don’t think I can return it either. I’ll call tomorrow. My motivation just went out the window, which bites…I was on a role.

Once again, time to re-route. Anyone else have planner issues? How do you make it work and keep it manageable?

I’m done. It’s done. The edits and read-through for The Veiled Path to Destiny~The Veil Book 2 are done!

This book has been my companion, some times combative, some times as silent as a church mouse, for over a year. It was a late bloomer. At times, the characters were reluctant to share their tale, as if sensing their story was coming to an end. But tell it they did. I can hope the words I wove together did their story justice, and you, the reader, enjoy reading about their journey.

This morning, I sent The Veiled Path to Destiny to my publisher. From there it will find itself in the hands of the formatter, who will work their magic, taking a word document and turning it into the form of a book.

The release date is July 8th.It will make its debut at Writer’s on the River in Peoria. Keep watching for the cover reveal.

Two weeks ago I sent The Veiled Path to Destiny off to my editor. It would be the first time eyes, other than mine, have read the story. Yesterday, I received my manuscript along with the editing calls in the mail. Yay…eep…yay!

I’m not going to bemoan the red ink. I’ve come to think of it as a rite of passage a story goes through to reach it’s full potential. I also think it’s sort of a rite of passage a writer goes through on the way to becoming a better writer. One might think the goal is get a story back with no red ink on it. That is just setting yourself up for failure. There are no “perfect” manuscripts out there. If you get your manuscript back with no markings, get yourself another editor, because if they don’t call your attention to mistakes in your writing that you missed before sending it their way…I can guarantee the readers will not hesitate to do so. The goal is to learn from the calls made so the same kind of calls are not made in the next story you send out for edits, at least, that is my goal anyway.

So, on that note…their are edits to get through and the day isn’t getting any longer.

p.s.: I really hope this makes sense. lol. My brain is just now waking up and there has not been nearly enough caffeine crossing the blood brain barrier to fire up all systems. 😉